New Locality Records for Reptiles, Including the Vulnerable Swamp Skink 'Egernia Coventryi', in South Gippsland, 2001 - 2005

2006·1.1 MB·English

by  Peter Homan

Contributions
New locality records for reptiles, including
the vulnerable Swamp Skink Egernia coventryi,
in South Gippsland, 2001 - 2005
PeterHoman
409CardiganStreet,Carlton.3053(Email:peter.homan(a:rmit.edu.au)
:
Abstract
Between 2001 and 2005, surveys ofvertebrate fauna in three crown land conservation reserves in
South Gippsland were commissioned by Parks Victoria. During these surveys new locality records
were obtained forseveral species ofsmall reptiles, including thevulnerable Swamp Skink Egernia
coventryi. Incidental records werealsoobtained from local residents duringthis period, resulting in
one new locality record for the Swamp Skink and two other species thathad not previously been
recorded in this partofsouthern Victoria. Habitatpreferenceofthe Swamp Skink isdiscussed.(The
VictorianNaturalist123(5),2006,335-338).
Introduction Thespeciesand localities
During 2001, a reptile and amphibian sur- SwampSkink Egernia coventryi
vey ofthe Wonthaggi Heathland Nature Wonthaggi Heathland Nature
Conservation Reserve was commissioned ConservationReserve
by Parks Victoria, results ofwhich have During the 2001 survey ofthis reserve a
been published in thisjournal (Homan new locality record for the vulnerable
2003). Overthefollowingfouryears further SwampSkinkwasobtained(Homan 2003).
surveys of reserves in South Gippsland
weIrne2c0o0m2,miasssiuornveedyboyfPthaerkvserVtiecbtroraitae.fauna BuAnufreoantugreCooafsttahlisRerseesrevreve is a series of
ofthe Bunurong Coastal Reserve was car- rocky headlands that enclose small, sandy
ried out. This reserve is located approxi- coves. In one such cove twenty Elliott
mbaettewleyen1C1a5pkemPsatseorustohnacansdtIonfverMleolcbho.urne, tOrcatposbe(rsm2a0l0l2,sizper,inTciyppaellyA)towesurrevesyetthien
presence of small mammals. Traps were
In 2003, a survey ofthe vertebrate fauna
ofpart ofthe Kilkunda-Harmers Haven baited with a mixture ofpeanut butter,
Coastal Reserve was carried out. The sec- ‘quick’ oats and honey. They were set
tion ofthis reserve surveyed was formerly behind a primary sand-dune, less than
known as the Harmers Haven Flora and twenty metres from the high tide mark, at
Fauna Reserve and adjoins the western end the base of a cliff. Traps were set over
of Bunurong Coastal Reserve at Cape three days and nights (60 trap-nights) and
Paterson and extends along the coast for were left open for daylight sampling,
approximately fourkilometrestotheeastern which resulted in the capture ofa Swamp
boundaryofthe Wonthaggi Heathlands. Skink on 10 October 2002. The site was
During2004and 2005, staffand students visited again in November2002 (using the
from the Department ofApplied Science, same survey method and effort) and a
Holmesglen Institute ofTAFH, carried out furthercaptureofaSwamp Skink occurred
vertebrate surveys of sites in the on27 November2002. Both captures mea-
Wonthaggi Heathland Nature Conser- sured and weighed the same (Table 1) and
vation Reserve that had been subjected to both had a regrowing tail, so it is assumed
ecological burning. thatthiswasthesameanimal.
Over this five year period several local The vegetation at this location consisted
residents also provided information that of Spreading Flax-lily Dianella revoluta,
pspreocdiuecseodfnreepwtilleosc.ality records for several SKwnoobrbdy-sCeldugbe-sLedegpeidIossolpeeprismnaogdloasadi,aCtoitamst,
Coast Tussock Grass Poa poiformis
,
Seabcrry Saltbush Rhagodia candolleana
,
Vol. 123 (5) 2006 335
Contributions
Table 1. Details ofSwamp Skinks recorded in Bunurong Coastal Reserve and Kilkunda-Harmers
HavenCoastalReserve,in2002and2003. * indicatesregrowthtail.
Location Date Snout-vent Taillength Weight
length(mm) (mm) (gms)
Bunurong 10Oct.2002 95 95* 23
Bunurong 27Nov2002 95 95* 23
HaimersHaven 12Feb.2003 80 120 13
HarmersHaven 12Feb.2003 105 115 30
HarmersHaven 12Feb.2003 65 57* 9
HarmersHaven 17Nov2003 107 115 30
withsome Austral BrackenPteridiumescu-
lentum Ross’ Noonflower Carpobrotus
rossii , Common Reed Phragmites
,
australis Coast Daisy-bush Olearia axil-
,
laris and Coast Beard-heath Leucopogon
parviflorus
.
Kilkunda-HarmersHaven CoastalReserve
During this survey two pitfall lines were
established in low-lying areas behind ter-
tiary sand-dunes approximately 1.3 kilo-
metres apart. Both pitfall lines consisted of
ten, twenty-litre plastic buckets, spaced at
five metre intervals, with a 30-centimetre- Fig. 1. Swamp Skink Egernia coventryi on
high aluminium flywire drift fence, over a mulchunderpeartree.
distance of60 m. The first pitfall line was
kilometres south-west of Koonwarra,
in vegetation that was largely weed-free,
with Coast Sword-sedge, Strand Sedge reported seeing fairly large skinks basking
Carex pumila Coast Tussock Grass, at several locations on their property. On
Bidgee-widgee,Acaena novaezelandiae 18 November 2003 I visited the property
some Austral Bracken and Coast Banksia, and foundtwo Swamp Skinks, one basking
Banksia integrifolia and a small infestation on the trunk ofa fallen Swamp Paperbark,
amongst weeds, beside adam, and another
ofSweetVernal-grassAnthoxanthum ador-
attuirobne.dTahreea,swehciocnhdhsaitdebweaesn ianpuablmiocrceadmips-- oornchmaurldch(F,igu.n1d)e.rThaepperaorpetrrteye winasavsismiatleld
site until it was fenced offabout ten years aSgwaainmponS2k8inJkanwuaasryf2o0u0n4d, wunhdeenraannotohelrd
previously. Vegetation atthis site consisted
polystyrene surfboard lying on weeds
of large areas ofSweet Vernal-grass, with
some Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare Coast besidethe dam.
Tussock Grass, emerging S,wamp TreeDragon Amphibolurus muricatus
Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia Coast Tea- Wonthaggi Heathland Nature
,
tree Leptospermum laevigatum and Coast Conservation Reserve
WattleAcaciasophorae. No records ofthis species were obtained
During the first trapping session on 12 during the reptile and amphibian survey of
February 2003, three Swamp Skinks were this reserve in 2001 (Homan, 2003).
captured in the first pitfall line, and on 17 However, on October 2002 Ms Terri
November 2003 one Swamp Skink was Allen, of Wont1h1aggi, visited the reserve
captured in the pitfall line at the disturbed and observed a Tree Dragon basking on a
site(Table 1). fencepost.
Private property approximately 8 kilome- The site was visited two days later on 13
October 2002, with Mr Steve Darby
tressouth-west,ofKoonwarra.
In late 2003, D and D Drummond, the of Yarram, when the Tree Dragon was
located again, captured by hand and
owners ofa property approximately eight
336 TheVictorian Naturalist
.
Contributions
photographed. Prior to this, no records for Blue-tongued Lizard was captured (Snout-
this species were available for this reserve vent = 100mm, Tail = 40mm, Weight =
or the Wonthaggi district (Atlas of 27gms). Baitusedwasamixtureof‘quick’
Victorian Wildlife database). On 14 oats, peanut butter and honey. The
November 2003 Terri Allen also found a Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua
road-killedTree Dragon on apublic access nigrolutea has been recorded in this
trackinthisreserve. reserve (Homan, 2003) and is common in
thisdistrict(Homan, unpubl. data); howev-
Kilkunda-HarmersHaven CoastalReserve
On 19 November 2003, the last day of Cer,omthmisonis tBhleuefi-rsttonagvauieldablLeizraercdorfdorofthtihse
the survey ofthis reserve, a juvenile Tree reserve and for the Wonthaggi district
Dragon wascaughtbyhand nearthepitfall (AtlasofVictoriaWildlife Database).
line located atthe disturbed site mentioned
above. Prior to this no records were avail- Discussion
able for this species in this reserve (Atlas The Swamp Skink is listed as vulnerable
of Victorian Wildlife Database). This in Victoria and most records are from
species is readily captured in pitfall traps coastal regions (AtlasofVictorianWildlife
(FNCV, RMIT University unpubl. data); Database). The species generally inhabits
yet, despite 1327 pit-nights being complet- low-lying areas, swamp margins, sedge-
ed throughoutthesereservesbetween2001 tussock vegetation and salt-marshes
and 2005, no individuals ofthis species (Cogger2000; Wilsonand Swan2003).
were recorded using this survey method. Therecordsobtainedduringthesesurveys
This may suggest that the population of from Wonthaggi Heathlands, Bunurong
this species is lowalong this section ofthe Coastal Reserve and Kilkunda-Harmers
Victoriancoast. Haven Coastal Reserve, are from areas and
habitat that are considered typical for this
BlackRockSkinkEgerniasaxatilis species. However, the habitat and location
PrivaWteNpWroperty approximately 3 kilome- ofSwamp Skink records at the Koonwarra
tres ofInverloch site are very different from those at the
During early 2005, B and L Teesdale,
owners ofaWpNroWperty approximately three potehcetredthtroeefsiintdes.thIinspsapretciciuelsari,nitanwaosrcuhnaerxd-
kilometres of Inverloch, noticed a close to numerous man-made structures,
lizard entering their home. The animal well away fromany low-lyingareas.
became a regular visitor and was pho- The Koonwarra property, ofabout ten
tographed on 25 February 2005. The pho-
tograph was forwarded to me by Parks haepcptraorxeism,atiesllyoceaitgehdt kiinlocomaesttraels fforootmhitllhse
sVihcotworeidatshteaffliaztarWdontothbaeggaiBalnadckclReaorclky wcoaasstaadnadiriysfaatramnbaelftoirteudbeeoifngabpouurtch9a0semd.iInt
vSkiionuks.lyNoavraeciolradbsleofftohristshpeeciWeosnwtehraeggprie/- d1u9c7e4danwdeeidss,heaivnicllyudiinnfgesStewdeewtitVherinntarlo--
Inverloch district (Atlas of Victorian grass, Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus Cape
WildlifeDatabase). Weed Arctotheca calendula Rib,Wort
,
Common Blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua Plantago lanceolata Rats-tail Grass
,
scincoides Sporobolus africanus, Dandelion
Wonthaggi Heathland Nature Conser- Taraxacum spp., and some Blackberry
vation Reserve Rubusfruticusos
During October 2005, staffand students Prior to settlement the property and sur-
from Holmesglen Institute ofTAFE car- rounding areas would have been typical
ried out a survey of vertebrate fauna in a South Ciippsland open-forest. Small rem-
section ofthisreservethatwas subjectedto nant areas ofthis forest type survive today
an ecological burn in May J992. Elliott alongroadsides in thedistrictand inneigh-
traps (Type A) were one of the survey bouringproperties, and as remnant vegeta-
methods used and were left open for day- tion in moist gullies. However, no low-
light sampling on 12 October2005. During lying, swampy habitat that could be con-
thistrapping session onejuvenile Common sideredtypical forthe Swamp Skink, exists
inanynearbyareas.
Vol. 123 (5) 2006 337
.
Contributions
thTehperoopnelrytynaitnive19v7e4gewtaastioannriesmoalaitneidngaroena dtheenrteaflolrye aipnpteraordsuctehadttSowtahmisppSrkoipnekrstyh.avIet
of about two hectares in a moist gully. survived in the past, in either the remnant
Vegetation covering halfofthis area con- moist gully (perhaps in the reedy vegeta-
sisted of Soft Tree Fern Dicksonia antarc- tion) or the roadside verge and have since
tica, Scrambling Coral-Fern Gleiehenia colonised several areas of artificial and
microphylhi, Red-fruit Saw-sedge Guhnia weedy habitat that the species apparently
sieberiana. Scented Paperbark Melaleuca findssuitable,
scjiiarrosa, Forest Wire Grass Tetrarrhena Clemann (2000) suggests that caution
juncea, and Austral Bracken, with some should be exercised when assuming that
Blackberry and an overstorey of Swamp Skinks are not present in marginal
Blackwood Acacia mefanoxy/on A small habitat or areas that appearunlikely to sup-
remnant stand of Messmate Eucalyptus portthespecies. IfSwamp Skinks have sur-
oPbeplpieqrumaintanEducalsyopmteus rNacairiratoaw-slurevaivveedd pvoisvseidbloentthhaits Koothoenrwaisrorlaatperdoppeorptuyl,atthieonnsitoifs
south of and adjacent to the gully. This this threatened species may exist in other
gully vegetation remains today and has partsoftheSouthGippsland foothills.
been allowed to expand through natural
regeneration to approximately three Acknowledgements
hectares. The otherhectare consisted ofan Surveysofthe reservesmentioned in this article
open area ofCommon Reed, which sur- w1e0r0e012ca0r0r,ie1d00o0ut16u9n3d,er10R0e0s2e1a0r8chanPder1m0i0t02N3o7s.7
vives, upstream and immediately adjacent issued by the Department ofSustainability and
totheabove vegetation. Environment. Staff at Parks Victoria,
Swamp Skinks were located about 300 m Wonthaggi, especially Dan Drummond, Brian
above the moistgullyto the north, nearthe Martin and Sandy Brown, provided much assis-
top of a wide slope. A narrow, road-side thaenrcei.nTteirmraiteAlklennowolfeWdognethoafggtihekiWnodlnythsahagrgeid
verge with Messmate, Narrow-leaved Hcathlands. Pascale Pitot, of Holmesglen
Peppermint and Swamp Paperbark and InstituteofTAFE, and Richard Francisprovided
some Blackberry is located about 150 m assistance with plant identification. D and D
north of the area where Swamp Skinks Drummondprovidedaccesstotheirpropertyand
wlaenrdenfoowundc.onsTihsetsporfevaiovuisneoyapredn,gproauzlitnryg dMBeanarcnyderoLsfoeTreMetoshdreaglaBenlparcookfviLdRoeodmcekphopStrkooigvnrikadpehrdieccfoierevdli.-d
enclosures, an orchard, a vegetablegarden, assistance.
several sheds, a house, several small dams
anda largenativegarden. References
atthAyetpiSlcweaalastmfpoonreStkphiirnsekvsipoieuncsiheassbu.irtvaeCtylechmoansasnlinodceaartneeddd CCllR1eee9mm7ca8aon.nrndnTNhoNef(tV2ahi0nec0dt0So)rwBiSeaauanmrrvpdNiasvteSaulklrliamnlkCistEth(ge1e\9Sr19u6nb9,iu)a1r2bcA7so-!v1Ne2Tne8th.wre'yi(IrSnetldoairnsrd-,
Beardsell (1999). recorded the Swamp rcoovveenrtyiyoifEatshteoTfhrMeelabtoeunrende,SwwiathmpCoSmkmiennktEsgoenrntihae
Skink in a low-lying site within heathy Failure ofElliottTraps in a Survey forthis Species.
twhoeodElnafnide,ldduSrtiantgeaFohreersptetnoefaarunBaalsluarravte,y iinn Co6Tghgeede.rV(i1cR1te(oe2rdi0a0Bn0o)NoakRtseu:prtaCillhieasstt.sawn1od17o.adm,1p8Nh0iS-b1Wi8)a3.nsofAustralia,
February 1999. During a survey of a Homan P (2003) A Reptile and Amphibian Surveyof
reserve in Boronia, in March, 2000, tVhiectWoorinatnhaNagtguiralHiesatth1l20a.nd14a7n-d15C2o.astal Reserve. The
Clemann (2000) also recorded the Swamp Wilson S and Swan G (2003) A Complete Guideto
Skink from habitat containing an under- ReptilesofAustralia(ReedNewHolland:Sydney)
storeyofweedgrasses.
Some small reptiles can be unintentional-
ly relocated when firewood or logs are Received8December2005;accepted11May2006
moved between sites. The Swamp Skink,
however, usually shelters in burrows
(Wilson and Swan 2003) and in any case
large logs are not a normal component of
swampy areas inhabited by the species, so
itis unlikelythat Swamp Skinkswereacci-
338 The Victorian Naturalist